WATSONVILLE — Santa Cruz Mayor Ryan Coonerty and a number of other city and county officials urged the California Coastal Commission Thursday morning to approve a change the in the city’s coastal plan that will allow the building of a new La Bahia Hotel.

City officials touted the economic benefits of the proposed 125-room condo-hotel, saying it would open up public access for what is now a residential use. They noted the city and developer have worked to reduce the height and mass of the building in response to concerns from staff of the Coastal Commission, which has jurisdiction over the project because the hotel would be built 1ï»¿1/2 stories over existing zoning limits. Even though the project calls for demolishing the historic La Bahia Apartments, officials noted the willingness to preserve some elements.

“This is something we are very proud of, the work we’ve done,” Councilwoman Lynn Robinson said.

Don Webber, a Beach Hill resident who co-founded the Build a Better La Bahia Coalition made of labor groups and historic preservationists, followed the city’s presentation with an indictment of the project as a massive, expensive hotel out-of-character with the surrounding neighborhood, and one that unnecessarily tears down a historic site.

“Rehabilitation is never easy or cheap, but it’s feasible — that’s the key,” Webber said, saying he objected to the inclusion of condos as a means for financing the $28 million project. “The commission is charged with the duty to protect coastal resources not developer conveniences.”

The commission broke for lunch at 12:45 p.m. but plannted to return at 2:15 p.m. to hear what is expected to be extensive public testimony before a set of critical votes this afternoon. The Local Coastal Plan amendment requires 7 out of 12 votes on the commission, even though one commissioner is absent.

Earlier at Thursday’s meeting, the commission unanimously granted approval to an amendment of Under a new proposal, La Bahia would be rebuilt to look as it does in this architect’s rendering featuring condos and a hotel (Barry Swenson Builder/Contributed photo)the county’s Local Coastal Plan that allows for medical marijuana dispensaries.

“It’s the first time a coastal community has provided for the siting and operation for medical marijuana,” said Susan Craig, a coastal planner with the state agency’s office in Santa Cruz.

She said the county’s ordinance permitting, but limiting through numerous restrictions, medical marijuana dispensaries “represents a thoughtful approach that appropriately provides parameters” for the growing and selling of pot for treating health ailments.

In a video clip recorded by a student, a psychology instructor at Orange Coast College told her class that the election of Donald Trump was “an act of terrorism” – prompting an official complaint from the school’s Republican Club.